Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-12


renee. The peaceable residents OF the little town
were suddenly awakened by an alarm which was
rung simultaneously from all the alarm boxes in
town. After lew minutes everybody was on his
or her feet and people We're running through the
streets from all directions all inuuirng where the
nre was. when the actual facts were learned
another alarm followed which was soon vigo-
rousy reechoed by the bells all the churches In
town. The people made a rush for the road to
most the first to appear at the scene. He was
seen by reporter and told briefly what he saw.
THE DOCTORS STORY.
when arrived found there the greatest con-
more horrtd picture-men and women fighting
with death and ready TO clutch at straw TO get
little child on his arms while his own feet were
broken and propped In the wreck. 1 relieved the
unfortunate man OF his burden and helped to drag
hlm out and bring him to a sleeper. one OF the
greatest misfortuneS was the fact that the wreck
took place almost In desert. 1t was impossible
to accord the wounded sufficient assistance There
were no MISUNDERSTANDING to carry them on.
They were dragged and pushed, and this accounts
Ior the great number OF people who succumbed TO
their pains"
WHAT FIRE MARSHAL GAME SAW
Fire Marshal Henry Ii. Came OF Chatsworth
says he was the first TO arrive at the scene 81
around he sad and my sp1r
force were working like beavers all the time and
In the course OF half an hour We had thirty-three
debris. -Four cars were standing on the track and
the only thing know about them is that carried
WOuuucu uen ana women tnere."
The COrOner's Inquest.
CHICAGO, August ia special to the Times
from Forest, Ill, says: The coroner's inquest on
the bodies OF those killed in the disaster OF We'd
neSday night, which began last evening, was held
on the top floor OF the public school-house. There
were present only the coroner the jury, President
Leonard, OF the Toledo, Peoria and Western Rail-
road; superintendent Armstrong, OF the same
road; Master OF Bridges Markley, Justice OF the
Peace Estes. and several reporters OF The Chicago
a fret trn-c llaNx
Supt. Armstrong. He testified that he was on the
fated train which consisted OF six sleeping cars.
car, and one baggage car, and was drawn by en-
gfne No. Ii, Engineer McClintOck and Fireman Ap-
plegreen, and engine No 2l, Engineer Ed. Suther-
The name OF the fireman OF engine No. II the wit.
ness did not recollect His car was next TO the
baggage car. The train left Chatsworth at about
IL 10 Wednesday night. After leaving he went
into his own car and sat there for three or four
minutes, when
HE FELT FEARFUL SHOCK
to the train. The next instant the car passed
over the burning bridge. He was thrown out Of
one OF the windows into hedge fence He got up
and asked one OF the fremen where the first en-
CINE was and was told that Engineer sutherland
had gone to Gilman for help. The engine came in
The wounded were taken out of the wreck where
possible and sent to Chatsworth and Piper CITY,
while all OF the dead were sent TO Chatswofth
the witness first II, the strtngers at both ends
having gone down. Dirt and brush were thrown
on the flames The engine set fire To nothing and
only one car and q Pullman sleeper were slightly
burned. The witness met the section foreman
the wreck after the occurrence and the latter
nesday and there was no fre there then. The
witness had warned him to have the section
knowing that the excursion train was going over
the road that night. No train went over the bridge
after $50 O'Clock wednesday. The witness
% cna1swortn and found that there were eIs Tew
over 600 persons on the train. He said he believed
there were only three or four dead persons In Piper
City. The witness did not think ii possible any
body could have been so nendish as TO burn the
bridge.
CONDITION OF THE BRIDGE.
j. II. Markley, master OF bridges and buildings
of the Toledo, Peoria and Western road, testified
that he inspected the bridge in May last It was
made of two pile bents, four pilngs to each bent
1t was Ii feet long and feet high. The string
ers were by 16 inches, two OF them being under
each rail- The ties were ERE, by by inches s and feet
In fourteen months ago. The piling was
good for about two years. There was
wall OF old timber at each end OF the bridge TO
keep up the enloankment. Its condition was
good. The witness examined the bridge yester-
day and found nothing left but part OF the par
TALLY burned curb and few pieces OF small tim
ber The piles were burned OF close TO the ground.
Three or four OF them were sticking up . feet
above tie ground. The witness though 1t would
take about two hours for such a bridge TO burn.
Other bridges On the road had been on fire this
year, but had been seen In time 10 prevent acci-
dents The burned bridge was about 2k miles
east OF ChOtswOrth.
AT this point the inquest was adjourned until to-
day, when Engineer Southerland, Fireman Apple
green, several section men, and some OF the pas
sengers On the train Will be examined
SIGNIFICANT TESTIMONY
CHATswokTH, ILL.,, August 2.-At the morning
session OF the coroneris jury some decidedly Sig
Eihcant testimony was given Timothy Coughlan,
the section foreman here testined that he had
four men helping him on his 66 miles. He re.
| Wednesday
tton and see that the bridges and track were
all right. Coughlan went to the east end
the track for half a mile. He burned a
piece OF a little over half OF q mile from the
and found no smoke about, and otherwise was all
| right About three weeks ago the grass under the
bridge had been cut away for 10 feet from the
roadmaster for The line from the state line to
from ON Fairburg to Gilman. He went % over re the faasi
bridge just before O'Clock in the afternoon.
He he as ao6 saM Sne that rear a5e oaSe END
all right. There was no nre or smoke about
the bridge, Ennis said.
Un 1y
the special, and II there was IRE there the men
would have discovered 1t. The bridge could have
ago two attempts were made to ditch theSen O'Clock
passenger train at that bridge, and we kept a
ON the G very pscs far
4
from any house.
An investigates 10 be Made.
dispatch from Springfield, Ill, says the board
| OF railroad and warehouse commissioners will go
| to Chatsworth to-day, and conduct an investiga-
ton OF the wreck yesterday morning.
Clearing Away the Wreck.
CnATswoRTB, Ill, August 13-At O'Clock this
morning Master Mechanic Warren with wreck
| ing train and large force OF men were at work.
| Warren was confident that the track would be
| cleared for trains by noon. They were certain
that all bodies had been removed from the wreck.
| A special car with of1cials OF the wabash road
| reached the wreck early this morning, and they
| rendered the use OF their wrecktng outfit. and as
| well offered TO be OF any service possible. The
Illinois central offered any required assistance,
ment would enable him TO clear the track. Presi-
dent Leonard superintendent Armstrong, and
l other Toledo, Peoria and Western onictals were
seen this morning. They have given devoted at
teuon TO the relief OF the injured ana care OF the
dead. Both show
| SIGNS OF THE TIRRrRlx SHOCK
which the &C c.ideat has been TO them. President
Leonard said that SO far as the railroad oflcials
could estimate there were about 50 killed and
100 seriously wounded. There are many who were
| slf0htly injured Of whom no record has yet been
obtained. A list Is being compiled In the Peoria
offlces OF the company. MI. Leonard said that az
near as he could ascertain the train was making
about thirty miles an hour at the time Of the &C
cident not excessive rate Of speed, the track
afteon-fOot wooden structure, Wa ell night a.
1opCa1rnlr a0f afkaFn00D n ov0P